Some people may actually be 'allergic to exercise' — yes, really

The INSIDER Summary:

An exercise-induced allergic reaction can occur during or after exercise.

For some people, symptoms surface after eating a particular food before or after physical activity.

The rare allergy is still being tested and should be treated like other conditions.

Being tired, not having enough time, or being extremely sore are common excuses for skipping a workout. One reason you might not hear of so often is being allergic to exercise. Although that sounds like BS, it is a real, and somewhat serious condition.

According to Cosmopolitan, exercise-induced anaphylaxis (EIA), which occurs during or after exercise, can result in flushing, wheezing, hives, swelling, and nausea among other symptoms. Vigorous forms of physical activity like jogging, tennis, and bicycling are often associated with the allergy, but so are things that take less energy like walking or doing yard work, Medscape reports.

Being out of breath after a jog does not mean you have exercise-induced anaphylaxis.

In fact, the condition probably only affects about 2% of the western population, according to a study published in Current Allergy and Asthma Reports.

Some people specifically suffer from food-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis (FDEIA). The symptoms occur when a particular food, commonly wheat or shellfish, is eaten before or after exercise.

Scientist are still determining the cause of the allergy.

The allergy is not fully understood, and scientists are still testing theories. Maria Castells, an allergist at Brigham and Women's Hospital, told Popular Science that it is especially hard to re-create the scenario for testing. "There's no mouse model and no human model of the ideas," she said.

Treatment includes avoiding "trigger foods" and keeping an EpiPen with you for emergencies.

Medical experts recommend avoiding "trigger foods" like wheat or shellfish that are associated with FDEIA, especially when you know you'll be exercising. Cosmopolitan reports that keeping an EpiPen on your person is good for emergencies.

If none of the symptoms sound like something you've experienced, then keep up with your regular exercise routine. Not everyone is privileged enough to be able to workout without health issues, so take advantage of taking care of yourself and find a physical activity that works for you.